General Discussion
Spot on with sharing that! I don't know who that Peter Harry bloke is, but I can't believe he's brought national shame on Dawlish!! Anyone around the UK who's read that story will be agreeing with the judge and wondering why, in this age of austerity, so much money was wasted on what was obviously a frivolous case. I'm sure Mr Harry is a nice chap and all, but why can't he put his energy towards positive matters? it's like the local group called 'Dawlish Against Ruining Everything' - if they didn't have such a negative name and were 'for' something, then I might take them seriously.
Sorry Andy Mac I have to disagree with you.
Mr Harry was parked in Southernhay East, the ticket said Southernhay West, the ticket should have been cancelled immediately, but they Exeter CC/Devon CC preferred to forge the documents to get a £60 fine paid. The envelope which contains the evidence which the Adjudicator uses to make his ruling has a list of its contents on the front, the Traffic Order was not included -which it should have- and is for Southernhay East, the map they used was of Southernhay East but they airbrused out the word East leaving just Southernhay -there is no such road. So the Adjudicator was also conned and ruled in their favour.
Whilst I feel sorry for Mr Urwin I think he was the scapegoat for Devon CC as they are the lead and Exeter CC act as agents for them and are instructed by DCC officers, if he had stuck to his first plea of not guilty it would have given him the chance to open a can of worms at DCC.
I do also understand his change of plea as I feel he just wanted it to end.
The other point in this case is that Judge Cottle is also Exeter City Council recorder and accompanies the Mayor on his civic duties, I feel he should have passed the case to another Judge.
Charging Practice
Like perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office covers a wide range of conduct. It should always be remembered that it is a very serious, indictable only offence carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A charge of misconduct in public office should be reserved for cases of serious misconduct or deliberate failure to perform a duty which is likely to injure the public interest.
Peter Harry is awell known champion of the motorist in this area, he doesnt advocate breaking the law but will fight to prove that the Councils do not comply with the law when it suits them. A lot of the time it can be classed as perloining money under false pretences
Peter Harry is a campaigner for the people. He prevents corrupt councils and police authorities from flauting the law to suit themselves in order to raise money by default. The guy is a champion locally and should be given a medal. As pointed out to councillor Clatworthy only recently DCC still have not acted in accordance with the law in several areas of Dawlish,even on Starcross straight where Mr Harry won the case against the 30mph limit there is still no road lighting making the 30 limit illeagal. Same goes for the warren road from Cockwood. The speed cameras at Shutterton and Holcombe where officially de-commisioned over 18 months ago but the empty boxes stil remain. DCC really need to obey the law or why should the rest of us, afterall we pay their wages don't we. As a footnote even though DCC are looking to make 50+ million in cuts they can still send Traffic Wardens to the Warren car parks at 10 am on a Sunday morning to catch the overnight motor home dwellers. Just about proves the point dosent it. TOSSERS !!!!!!!!
Fronterman you mention, J Clatworthy the esteemed Deputy Leader of Devon CC. A friend asked for his comments re P Harry's case which he is well aware of: this is what he said "
You have the advantage of having attended the hearing but you know there is many a slip between cup and lip and the favourites do not always win and that applies with the law as with horse racing !!. John
A glib comment dont you think? he obviously does not believe in the law.
I will remember this when it comes to voting next time, as you will get no help from him.
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Know what you mean about councilor Clatworthy, however of late he has twice helped me to ensure the Sainsbury's contractors keep to the law. Maybe when the Police authority is involved he changes faces so as not to jeopardy his invite to the chief constables funny handshake ball.
At the end of the day they all piss in the same money grabbing pot
There is a sick can worms in DCC parking services and he does nothing to open it up.
A perfect example is Market St in Crediton they applied for authorisation to operate a Restricted Zone which needs special authorisation from the Secretary of State they applied twice and were refused. they put the signs up anyway and issued tickets from 2008 untill three weeks ago, I went and photographed the site, the following week a team arrived with angle grinders and cut the signs down, have they advertised stating that people can apply for a rebate or even contacted people, NO. they want to keep the money unlawfully.
Another example when they introduced Traffic Orders in 2008 they missed out 34 Devon towns, yet they fined people in those towns, with no authority to do so. It just goes on and on.
Saw the article on bbc spotlight tonight about over £100,000 taken falsely in penalty charges where traffic orders were not in place!!!!!! Wonder how many people have been contacted to say we owe you a refund
None will be contacted as they will use the usual excuse and say people may appeal, but the question is how will they know
As I said before G Urwin has taken blame and yet others in DCC get away with it. He is quoted today in the Western Morning News today.
"The defendant has admitted he doctored the plan and blames others in the council for being involved."
Perhaps now he will open up and tell all.
I found it strange to see the famous Peter Harry caught on television taking photos in the face of a traffic warden. Personally I found it to be very bizarre, but we all know someone with strange hobbies I suppose. I wonder, whether Peter Harry and User 4549 share the same camera - one to take photos of traffic warden faces, the other to take photos of yellow lines. And do you put the photos in an album or are they stuck around the wall of your spare room?
Oh Andy Mac, I do soooooo love your sense of humour. Every time I read your posting I just start laughing out loud again.
Very funny.
Andy Mac, I forgot to ask, did you see BBC spotlight last night reporting how DCC/ECC have taken approximately £100.000 in illegal fines. Quite a laugh dont you think?
Hi User 4549, I'm glad you've taken my frivolous little comments in the right spirit. :-) £100,000 is a lot of money and if it's been illegally obtained then those responsible ought to be brought to justice. Though I'd hope that it doesn't lead to an increase in Council Tax...
I understand that they are filming another unlawful site since 2008 in Crediton tomorrow. If they are forced to refund which I think they will, it should be paid by the officers of the council before they are fired, I believe they have kept this problem away from Councillors or at least most of them.
Last time they were caught out at Starcross they blamed the Devon and Cornwall Camera Partnership. You know the private company based in Salford Greater Manchester who DCC and the Police have money making scam agreements with. You cant miss them they park their vans on peoples driveways, bus laybays, grass verges and on yellow lines etc, then they video people in their cars like the bunch of perverts they really are. Thats why we need people like Peter Harry not only are we being robbed but they are using illegal tactics to do it and that ain't no laughing matter. Oh by the way guess who pays for all this in the long run.
Anybody fancy this job?
FURY OVER £600-A-DAY PARKING JOB
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/232058/Fury-over-600-a-day-parking-jobFury-over-600-a-day-parking-jobFury-over-600-a-day-parking-job#ixzz1FR8DCk1A
My CV is in the post. Thanks for the heads-up matey! :-) I see that local legend Peter Harry is photographed in today's Express & Echo. The way that he's posed stood next to his old banger (car, I mean), makes me wonder whether he was a model for Grattans in years gone by. A serious question though, does he deliberately look to park in locations that he believes to be improperly marked or unauthorised? Could you ask him please, as I'm intrigued as to how he keeps getting parking tickets. Cheers matey.
No mention that Cllr Percy Prouse has asked the CPS if they can appeal against the sentence handed out by the Judge in that article then Andy
Andy Mac:. Being retired he has over the years learnd a terrific amount about signs, lines and TRO's, if it is unlawfully in use he will park there. Most people dont have the time to either appeal or check the details of the regulations, thats what councils rely on, its a numbers game.
For those who have not seen the article in today's E & E.
There may be more on BBC Spotlight tonight.